We are only two rounds into the current MXGP World Championship season but there’s already been injured riders which have meant the teams have needed to call up fill in riders.
We look at the situation below:
Factory Yamaha
If there was one team you’d have thought wouldn’t have too many issues then it would be Factory Yamaha as they came into the season with a three rider line up in the form of Maxime Renaux, Jago Geerts and Calvin Vlaanderen.
After just two rounds and Vlaanderen who himself didn’t have the perfect off-season is the only one of the three still standing. Renaux broke his foot last year and it has continued to hinder him, the French talent decided to not race moto two in Spain due to the pain and will have another operation.
Jago Geerts didn’t even make it to the race day on his MXGP debut after a start crash and then a big crash at the end of the lap around a sketchy track. The result was that his left clavicle and elbow were fractured.
For Riola, the Factory Yamaha team have drafted in Todd Kellett but it is only for the one race. You’d imagine the search for a more permanent fill in rider will continue.
“I’m pleased I have been given the opportunity to race the MXGP of Riola, Sardinia for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team. It’s an opportunity that I am very grateful for, and the team have been very supportive. We have done some testing and the bike is next level! I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in this adventure. It’s not the “usual” race format for me, but we will give it 110% in the soft stuff and see what we can put on the table”, Kellett stated in the Yamaha press release.
Fantic Racing
Fantic came into the MXGP season with Glenn Coldenhoff and Roan van de Moosdijk – an all Dutch rider line up. Van de Moosdijk twisted his knee at Hawkstone International and didn’t even make it to the MXGP opening round.
Shortly after the opening round, news came from nowhere that van de Moosdijk and Fantic had parted company.
As a result, Fantic have drafted in Brian Bogers for the rest of the season so they still have an all Dutch rider line up. It’ll be nice to see Bogers back in MXGP after the Revo GasGas ride didn’t work out leaving him without a ride coming into the season.
“I am a very lucky guy at the moment because I never thought that I would still get the chance to race in MXGP this season. Therefore, you can imagine that I don’t only take this opportunity with both hands but with both hands and feet! Thank you to Fantic Factory Racing MXGP for this amazing opportunity, I am very motivated and focused to let this work”, Bogers stated in the Fantic press release.
HRC Honda
At the opening round of MXGP, Ruben Fernandez was involved in the first corner qualifying pile up and whilst it looked like he escaped serious injury, it was revealed just before round two that he picked up an ACL injury.
As a result, HRC Honda who are developing a new prototype 2025 Honda, were on the look out for a fill in rider and decided to snap up van de Moosdijk after he split with Fantic. This is a huge opportunity for van de Moosdijk and he’ll be eager to impress.
“When I heard about this opportunity, I knew I had to take it with both hands. The chance to ride for Team HRC doesn’t come along very often and I am hopeful that I can show everyone what I am capable of, in what will be my full-time debut in the MXGP class. It certainly won’t be easy to get up to speed on the Honda CRF450R straightaway but seeing how well Tim (Gajser) has been riding it, I know that it is a very competitive bike and I’m excited to get started and get comfortable on it. Thanks to everyone that has supported me, to get me to this moment, and I can’t wait to get to Riola and get lined up for that first gate-drop”, van de Moosdijk stated.
JM Honda
Brent van Doninck had a nightmare in Argentina after also being involved in the qualifying start crash. The Belgian headed straight to hospital after breaking his femur but they hammered a pin into his lower leg without anesthesia.
It was nearly a week later that Van Doninck was getting the required operation but thankfully he is back in Belgium now recovering.
The JM Honda team have given a chance to Tim Edberg who has been out of the MXGP paddock for a few years so it’s a huge opportunity for the young Swede to showcase himself against the best riders in the world.
Article: Andy McKinstry
